The San Francisco Police Department is belatedly undertaking the process of correcting a lapse in procedure that, advocates say, has further imperiled victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

The SFPD has been accused of long-term violations of a state law mandating police departments to release incident reports within five days to these victims, as well as victims of human trafficking, stalking, and elder abuse. In many cases, advocates claim, the department has released these reports weeks or months late — and sometimes not at all — when victims need them in order to file restraining orders.